Universities hit as strikes on Iran expand, At least 30 campuses affected

At least 30
universities in Iran have been affected by US and Israeli strikes since the
start of the war, authorities said, as attacks increasingly hit infrastructure
linked to research, health and industry.
Iran's Minister of
Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei Saraf said parts of dozens of
universities have been damaged since fighting began on February 28. The latest
strike hit the Laser and Plasma Research Institute at Shahid Beheshti
University in Tehran on Friday, leaving the facility in ruins.
There were no
casualties at the university as classes had already been moved online, though
nearby dormitories sustained minor damage. Iranian officials condemned the
attack, calling it a blow to scientific research and academic security.
Other institutions,
including Iran University of Science and Technology and the Pasteur Institute
in Tehran, have also been hit. The World Health Organization said the Pasteur
Institute sustained significant damage, disrupting its ability to provide
health services, though no deaths were reported.
The escalation comes as
US and Israeli forces widen their strikes beyond military targets to include
economic and industrial infrastructure. Heavy bombardment in the southern city
of Mahshahr damaged refineries, while Iranian authorities reported casualties.
Iranian officials say
more than 2,000 people have been killed in attacks on civilian areas, including
homes, schools and businesses, though the figures could not be independently
verified.
Meanwhile, tensions
remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington warning of further
action if Iran does not reopen the key shipping route. Tehran has vowed
retaliation, raising fears of a broader regional escalation.
















